Holding steady.
Popularity of Donaldson since 1915
Babies named Donaldson per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1964, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Donaldson's real moment was 1937.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 11 |
| 1920s | 27 |
| 1930s | 28 |
| 1940s | 11 |
| 1950s | 17 |
| 1960s | 8 |
| 1970s | 10 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 10 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Donaldson first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1915, though never attaining widespread popularity. Its peak year came in 1937, coinciding with the era when patronymic surnames were occasionally adopted as given names. The name has remained in use at a very low frequency, reflecting a stable but niche presence over the past century. Unlike more common Scottish surnames-turned-first-names, Donaldson has not experienced a revival or significant trend, maintaining a quiet, traditional appeal.
Donaldson is an English and Scottish patronymic surname derived from the given name Donald, which itself comes from the Scottish Gaelic Domhnall, composed of the elements domno 'world' and val 'rule, might'. Historically used as a surname, it transitioned to occasional use as a first name, particularly in the United States during the early 20th century. The name reflects the tradition of forming patronymics by adding 'son' to the father's name.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Don, Donnie, Sonny
Sibling names for Donaldson
Names that share Donaldson's style, for a brother or sister.
